State Fair to limit smoking

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota State Fair plans to limit open air smoking on its 320-acre property beginning this year.

Smoking has already been prohibited in fair buildings and in entertainment seating areas, such as the grandstand. Smokers could light up in any other outdoor spaces--until now.

Fair spokeswoman Brienna Schuette there will be outdoor designated smoking areas. But, Schuette says how many areas and where they will be located are details that still need to be finalized before the fair begins Aug. 12.

Schuette says managers have been studying how other fairs handle smoking. The new policy follows an incident last year in which a 2-year-old girl from Graceville was accidentally poked in the eye and injured by a burning cigarette.